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How M&M’S is taking a stand against climate change with wind power

The threat of climate change looms large these days. From changing rainfall patterns to super storms and extreme temperatures, climate change puts communities everywhere at risk — and it has the potential to get even worse. In fact, research presented at the Paris Climate Agreement suggests that even a two degree rise in temperatures could permanently affect life on earth.

In response, Mars — one of the world’s largest privately held, family-owned businesses — is taking action.

The makers of M&M’S have launched their Fans of Wind energy campaign, led by Red and Yellow M&M’S, to spread the word about renewable energy and highlight the power of wind energy:

The case for wind in business

Wind is a powerful force that does so much more than direct sailboats and tousle hairdos. Wind is a free, clean, and reliable source of energy that is currently being harnessed and produced in more than 100 countries around the world through wind farms. Wind turbines are an easy way to generate electricity without any of the harmful byproducts that contribute to climate change, like air pollution and carbon emissions.

Increasing wind power in the U.S. could save consumers nearly $1 trillion in electricity, heat and health costs, and weather damages. Along with saving the environment, wind also creates jobs. In 2016, the wind energy sector employed 101,738 workers and actually has the potential to create 500,000 more jobs by 2050.

The U.S. already has a leg up, with wind turbines generating 5.5 percent of the nation's electricity. Suffice to say, wind is a natural source of energy that everybody — corporations and countries alike — should be paying attention to.

Why M&M’S and wind?

One of the many impacts of climate change is the destruction of cocoa crops worldwide, which reduces the supply of chocolate for everyone. Can you imagine a world without chocolate?

Mars has purchased enough wind power to produce all the M&M’S sold in the world — a move that has cut their own greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent. After partnering with wind farms, Mars became the first major food business to source all its electricity for its U.S. operations from renewable sources.

Image: Mars

These farms are the real deal, too: The 25,000-acre Mesquite Creek Wind Farm in Texas is massive – approximately the size of Paris, France. It has 118 turbines and produces enough electricity to power more than 60,000 homes. In fact, one wind turbine spinning for one second produces enough energy to make eight packs of milk chocolate M&M’S.

On top of their wind farms, Mars is already using or purchasing renewable electricity to cover 100 percent of its operations in Belgium, Brazil, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 2018, the chocolatiers will add Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Spain, Poland, and Mexico to the list of countries where renewable electricity covers 100 percent of Mars’ operations. How sweet is that?

How to be a fan of wind energy

Everyone can be a fan of wind and support clean energy — and there are many ways to do it. You can get informed by learning about wind energy facts, trends, and statistics from American Wind Energy Association and Wind Europe. Find your footprint to determine the amount of carbon dioxide emissions we’re collectively responsible for and ways you can cut down. We recommend the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Carbon Calculator.

So, what’s all this leading to? By 2050, Mars aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across their full supply chain by 67 percent. This is all part of the monumental effort to keep the planet from warming beyond two degrees — a potentially-deadly outcome that could be our reality if we don’t all do our part. Become a fan of wind, and join the effort to prevent further climate change.

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